Climate Change Series: Salt Marsh Walk & Talk with York Land Trust

Join York Land trust and York River Stewardship Committee's Watershed Program Coordinator Jennifer Hunter and Maine Master Naturalists Sally Harold and Paul Dest for a salt marsh exploration at York Land Trust's Smelt Brook Preserve. 

Jennifer, Sally and Paul will cover the beautiful complexity of salt marsh ecosystems and the importance of salt marshes in relation to climate change - both how the marshes are affected by rising water levels and how marshes themselves can help mitigate a changing climate. They will also discuss the multiyear salt marsh restoration project taking place on 132 acres of York Land Trust and U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service land.

This walk is mostly flat but may be wet in parts, so please wear boots or shoes that can get muddy.

Where to meet: Park at the Highland Farm Preserve Parking lot at 321 Cider Hill Road in York, ME. The group will then cross the street together to Smelt Brook Preserve.

Registration in advance is required for this free program.

This event is part of the 5th annual 2026 Climate Change Series brought to you by York Public Library, York Ready for Climate Action and York Land Trust. This year's theme, “Tides of Change: Our Coast Our Future”, will include special programming from February through April and will examine how a warming climate is reshaping marine ecosystems, coastal communities, and livelihoods—and highlight practical actions that support resilience and stewardship in one of the world’s fastest-warming ocean regions.

For a full list of Climate Change Series programming, please visit yorkpubliclibrary.org/climate.